I'm going to Vancouver in just less than 2 weeks and already want to start packing for the trip. My DH (and sister) think I'm nuts. I think I'm just super excited! I also want to be incredibly organized and planned as we're taking our 5yr old and 6 month old, plus driving for 12hrs over 2 days. I'm not dealing with bored kids!!
Now I'm curious... how far in advance do you start packing for road trips?
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts
Vancouver is a beautiful city.
I start a packing list a week in advance and pack two days before.
cherry / 150 posts
@Leialou - I agree! Vancouver is one of my favourite places to visit. My sister now lives there so it gives us extra incentive to travel 
hostess / papaya / 10540 posts
I shop and make lists that far in advance, but don't really pack until the night before and toss the last few things in the morning of.
persimmon / 1364 posts
I pack the day before or 2 days at most. But I start a list and shop weeks in advance.
pomegranate / 3658 posts
About an hour before we leave.
We take a lot of weekend trips so I pretty much pack the same thing every time, so it's just a matter of tossing in a couple outfits.
coconut / 8430 posts
I will start making a list a few days before, then start the actual packing 1-2 days before. If I start too early, I forget what I've done and end up pulling out everything and starting over!
nectarine / 2220 posts
Ummm... ridiculously far. I usually put a laundry basket in the corner of my room about a month before I leave to put stuff that I think I might forget that I won't use between now and the trip. Like we went to the Carribbean in early May, so I had most of our summery type stuff like sunscreen and swimsuits and our travel first aid kit sitting there for at least a month. But the bulk of the packing in the week leading up. Lists as I think of things though.
Oh, and have fun in Vancouver! That's where we live 
It's been beautiful here lately, so hopefully the weather holds for your visit.
pineapple / 12566 posts
Depends on where we are going and for how long. In general I start to pack 2 days before we leave.
pomelo / 5791 posts
I start a packing list waaaaaaaaaay far in advance, especially if I need to buy anything. I usually start packing a few days before.
nectarine / 2272 posts
Like the day before, maybe two days. I dont have room in place to keep the suitcase out. Sometimes i'll make a list in advance tho
squash / 13208 posts
If we are heading to the beach then I pack all the beach stuff the weekend before the trip as well as any dry food and games that we are taking
I cant really pack clothes or anything until the night before because the kids need to wear them and I don't have extra outfits just for vacation.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
About a month in advance I bust out my packing lists to see what I might need to replace or add.
Two weeks before I bring out the suitcases and start packing, one person at a time. I wish I could be more spontaneous about it, but with a kid, not quite there yet.
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts
I start piling stuff a week before and then actually pack the night before.
We are going to the beach in September so I will fully pack R the weekend before. Then I can do the rest while she is asleep all week.
wonderful olive / 19353 posts
Another fan of Vancouver here!
I start gathering DS's stuff a few days before our trip and pack his and my stuff the day/night before the trip.
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
3 weeks! but we go to the Philippines every year and it's 6 flights roundtrip, 4 days of travel.
3 weeks out i update my packing spreadsheet that I always have saved from previous years. then i start ordering things I need for the trip (like sunblock) on Amazon. I also research a couple of new toys for the trip and hit the dollar store/Target one spot for cheap toys.
If I need to buy any new clothes (swimming suits), I also do this 3 weeks out. I list all the other things that need to be done like find a cat sitter.
Two weeks out I pull out the suitcases and start packing things like toys that I won't need.
The final packing doesn't take place until 3 days before, but I definitely plan way ahead because I don't like forgetting anything.
pomegranate / 3759 posts
Depends on length and destination. Usually start rounding stuff up the day before we leave. DH likes to start about an hour before we leave!
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
@Mrs. Bee: Haha, I know!
Part of it is that the trips we were taking were to somewhat remote locations (as in, no access to a Target, closed on Sundays, etc). I also hate paying inflated prices on items that I have at home!
grapefruit / 4066 posts
The day before. I'm super organized and efficient though, and I just like doing it all at once, not little by little.
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
I'd start packing a few days before. If it's a long trip, up to a week before!
pomegranate / 3809 posts
I start packing the night before any trip. If I pack too early, then I'm afraid I'll forget what I have already and forget something.
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
A week or week and a half, but I'm making detailed lists a month out in case I "need' to buy some things.
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